shellbacks

Veteran sailors called shellbacks shave the heads of the uninitiated pollywogs.

The Attack on the Liberty James Scott 2009

In between pulls on the rope, old shellbacks sang out, “Hang, you sons of bitches, hang!!”

A Furnace Afloat JOE JACKSON 2003

The first-timers, or “pollywogs,” were subjected to the ritual dunkings that turned them into “trusty shellbacks.”

The Do-or-Die Men George W. Smith 2003

The first-timers, or “pollywogs,” were subjected to the ritual dunkings that turned them into “trusty shellbacks.”

The Do-or-Die Men George W. Smith 2003

The first-timers, or “pollywogs,” were subjected to the ritual dunkings that turned them into “trusty shellbacks.”

The Do-or-Die Men George W. Smith 2003

Two-thirds of them were crusty shellbacks who had fared under his command before.

Genesis ANDERSON, Poul 2000

Set he, 'Look' ere, you shellbacks, if yer lead a life of sin, '

Fire Down Below (2) 1999

"Yes, sir; French sailors are not like English ones, nor do they resemble our American shellbacks, who do know a thing or two!" replied the colonel.

The Ghost Ship A Mystery of the Sea Henry [Illustrator] Austin

"I've heard some of the old shellbacks talking about things," he said.

The Ghost Pirates: Chapter 14 1909

Now every honest sailor knows that certain superstitions are gospel fact, such as the bad luck brought by a cross-eyed Finn, a black cat, or going to sea on Friday, and these eighteenth century shellbacks must not be too severely chided for deserting while they had the chance.

The Old Merchant Marine; A chronicle of American ships and sailors Ralph Delahaye Paine 1898